News Archive Jun 2007

29 Jun Arbitrage volumes set to fall
But Singapore-based traders say lower volumes are matched by weak demand.
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29 Jun End in sight for Uruguay fuel drought
Refinery restart brings hope of market improvement, though regional fuel squeeze is set to continue.
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29 Jun Launch of new barges delayed
Kuwait supplier asks for 'enhancements' on original design.
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29 Jun Jury still out on new Rotterdam pricing service
Platts dominance continues, but Argus Director says the Fuel Oil Bulletin Board is on track in delivering a solid market index.
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29 Jun Shipping industry hears claims of 'bunker fraud'
'Unscrupulous shipmangers' misreporting bunker levels in ships' bunker tanks.
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29 Jun Algeria: Barge out of service at Bejaia
Only MGO available until barge returns.
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29 Jun Rotterdam market stable
29 Jun Titan Ocean sells bunker tankers
Six bunker tankers and four chemical tankers will be returned to Titan on charter.
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29 Jun First refloat attempt fails as tow lines snap
Australian crew plans second bid to float beached Pasha Bulker.
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28 Jun Industry organisations rally behind US proposal to the IMO
World Shipping Council throws its weight behind the US MARPOL Annex VI proposal with ringing endorsement from liner shipping giants.
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28 Jun Viswa Lab sounds alarm on asphaltenes
Fuel testing agency says fuels with high asphaltenes appear to be cause of recent spate of broken piston rings and filter choking.
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28 Jun Strong demand for low-sulphur product
Ship operators in ARA buying LSFO as SECA deadline approaches.
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28 Jun Bunker surcharges up again
Maersk Line increases Bunker Adjustment Factor between Mediterranean and North America for the second time in three months.
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28 Jun Clean fuel demand drives Chemoil storage expansion
Public hearing in Long Beach this week on proposed expansion to Chemoil's waterfront storage facility.
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28 Jun Rotterdam: Many suppliers fully booked this month
28 Jun Singapore: Residual fuel stocks rebound
Late June cargo arrivals boost fuel oil stocks.
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28 Jun Moves to reduce oil dependency could hit OPEC supplies
OPEC president says producers need "security of demand" to keep oil flowing.
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28 Jun Bangladesh competes for bunker-tanker new builds
Cost of building a bunker tanker in Bangladeshi shipyards is 20% cheaper than in China, shipbuilder claims.
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28 Jun Melbourne spot market out of 180 cst material
Supplies of spot 180 cst bunker fuel expected to return in early August.
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27 Jun Flow meter 'can defeat cappuccino effect'
Meter manufacturer claims its technology can measure bunker deliveries by mass, excluding air trapped in suspension.
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27 Jun US gasoline draw sends oil prices back up
DOE figures show rise in crude oil but unexpected decline in gasoline inventories.
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27 Jun Source of San Diego spill still under investigation
Fuel samples from more than 30 ships to be compared with oil that closed beaches in June.
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27 Jun Regulations stifle Russian Black Sea market
Port Kavkaz area meeting the demand of just a fraction of the potential market.
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27 Jun Rotterdam market quiet
27 Jun Sale of Freeport terminal 'looks certain' to go through
No shortage of bidders for BORCO storage facility as market focuses on potential for growth.
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27 Jun New Indian terminal to start operating in July
Mundra terminal will have 60,000 m³ of storage for bunker material.
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27 Jun Oil spill threatens wildlife estuary
Source of oil pollution in UK Estuary remains unknown, specialists say.
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27 Jun Oil drops ahead of US inventory report
Prices fall by more than $1 a barrel in New York.
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26 Jun California: ARB invites input on Vessel Speed Reduction measure
Speed reduction could form part of effort to reduce harmful emissions from ocean-going vessels.
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26 Jun Risky refloat operation planned for Thursday
Bunker spill danger remains real amid fears that Pasha Bulker refloat operation could worsen hull damage.
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26 Jun Algeciras port predicts continued bunker growth
Port officials report nearly 12% growth in 2006; see further growth despite environmental opposition to bunkering in the Bay.
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26 Jun Rotterdam little changed Tuesday morning
26 Jun Saudi fuel oil cargo offered for July loading
Saudi Aramco offers up to 116,000 mt of 380 cst fuel oil from its Jubail refinery.
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26 Jun Saudi Aramco halts 180 cst bunker sales
Aramco's Ras Tanura refinery has temporarily stopped supplying 180 cst along the Persian Gulf.
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26 Jun Some OPEC members increasing output
Iran and Algeria are exporting more crude oil. Nigeria too, has increased output.
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25 Jun Biodiesel firm to buy Louisiana marine supplier
Biodiesel to be made more widely available to marine vessels in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.
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25 Jun Kittiwake warns of growing quality risk
Blending to produce more SECA compliant fuels increases risk of compatibility and stability problems.
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25 Jun Demand spike disrupts operations
Regional shortages push bunker buyers to Gibraltar.
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25 Jun D&K announces bunkering departure
Odysseus Goumas is leaving EBFL as Group Bunkering and Business Development Manager.
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25 Jun Suppliers remain critical of bunker alerts
Suppliers on three continents say bunker alerts have unnecessarily given their market a bad reputation.
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25 Jun Rotterdam: Some suppliers booked until end-June
25 Jun Protests continue against India's new shipping channel
Sri Lanka bunker players say negative impact on Colombo bunker market will be minimal.
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25 Jun Titan completes strategic investor deal
Investment by private equity firm to fund Titan's expansion in oil logistics.
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25 Jun Kemaman bunkering operation generating funds for AZRB
Bunkering operation in the Malaysian port generate revenue of $15 million.
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22 Jun Shore power consultation continues
Draft regulations for California to be considered at latest workgroup meeting announced today.
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22 Jun Venezuela fuel oil flowing to China
Record cargo volumes for May amid rising demand and high Singapore prices.
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22 Jun Crude oil market 'stunned into silence'
Crude oil traders say changes to Platts benchmark calculations could produce 'huge distortions'.
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22 Jun Greek market remains 'tight'
Supplier expects shortages to ease at the end of next week.
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22 Jun ARA: Prompt supplies tight
22 Jun Sea Diamond's operators to fight bunker spill fine
Statement says the Greek Merchant Marine Ministry decision was 'unfair and unfounded'.
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22 Jun Chinese firm gets bonded bunker storage licence
Subsidiary of China Shipping Sinopec will be able to operate a bonded bunker fuel storage in Hainan.
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22 Jun Oil spill under control
Vietnamese river could have suffered 'serious pollution' says oil recovery company.
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22 Jun OPEC insists oil supply is sufficient
Increasing supply would only add to already ample oil stocks in consumer nations, says cartel official.
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21 Jun Oil slides but US bunkers wary
Mixed marine fuel price picture emerging as crude and fuel oil falling.
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21 Jun Groups to sue over port 'diesel death zones'
Environmentalists targeting EPA for legal action after delay in ship engine standards rules.
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21 Jun Durban new-build on target for 2007 delivery
Suppliers preparing for the phasing out of the aging pipeline network.
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21 Jun India: New bunker barge will be deployed in July
Second 3,000 dwt barge will be ready in September.
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21 Jun Oil clean up teams on stand-by
Risk of bunker spill on Australia's New South Wales coast remains serious.
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21 Jun Rotterdam suppliers committed till early next week
21 Jun Singapore: Residual fuel stocks at 10-week low
But middle distillate stocks rebound from week-ago levels.
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21 Jun Bunker costs cut profit
India's state-run carrier posted a 18.6% fall in net profit on higher bunker cost and other factors.
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21 Jun Indian supplier to build bunkering terminal
Supplier signs MOU with the Gujarat state government to build new terminal.
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20 Jun Carnival bumps fuel cost numbers up
Cruise line seeing higher bunker costs impacting second-quarter results and revising future figures upward.
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20 Jun Mexico offers cheaper distillate
Prices seeing only marginal increases as other regional ports firm.
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20 Jun Oil prices ease on US stock build
Solid crude and gasoline inventory gains knocks oil price off peak.
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20 Jun New ARA barge ready for operation
FTS/Hofftrans says medium sized vessel will be suitable for low-sulphur fuel oil deliveries.
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20 Jun Plans for new bunker terminal in South Africa
Saldanha Bay project could import product if local sources run dry.
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20 Jun Rotterdam: Most suppliers fully booked this week
20 Jun Hong Kong 180 cst material continues tight run
Supply of 180 cst bunker grade has been tight for more than a month.
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20 Jun Ship collision causes oil spill
Hundreds of litres of fuel oil spilled into a Vietnamese river.
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20 Jun Court imposes fine for bunker spill
Firm involved in leak had asked for help in reviewing best bunker practice.
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20 Jun Kiel, Germany: Bunker station maintenance works
19 Jun Bunker prices increase 600%
Key ports posting record highs with historical comparisons showing massive changes.
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19 Jun Uruguay dry, Argentina tight
19 Jun Iran could use 'oil weapon' if attacked
Analysts say security concerns boost Fujairah's standing as a regional energy hub.
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19 Jun Suppliers stocking up on low-sulphur product
DNVPS says availability should not be a problem when new SECA comes in force, but operators will still need to check quality.
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19 Jun Greece fines owner, operator and captain over bunker spill
Fines totalling more than $1.5 million follow bunker spill of some 300 metric tonnes.
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19 Jun Middle East fuel oil markets stabilise
Fujairah bunker prices hold below Singapore as regional fuel oil markets ‘return to normal’.
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19 Jun Rotterdam: Suppliers fully committed this week
19 Jun Mumbai players eye 380 cst supply
India-based supplier says it plans to supply 380 cst product in one month.
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19 Jun Japan's bonded supplies dry up
No more bonded bunker fuel products available for the rest of June.
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18 Jun Rotterdam congestion highlights importance of supply chain control
Chemoil says dependence on third parties is at the root of bunker supply problems in the port.
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18 Jun Bunker surcharge up from July
Caribbean operator says rising fuel prices have forced the increase.
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18 Jun Sea Diamond's bunkers: Arrest warrants issued
Anger as Sea Diamond's bunker fuel remains a threat over two months after cruise ship sank.
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18 Jun Bunker demand in Salalah set to rise
New container berths expected to boost traffic in Arabian Sea transhipment hub.
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18 Jun Prompt supply still difficult in Rotterdam
18 Jun Mitsui developing scrubbers with BP
Mitsui claims scrubbers will reduce ship-source SO2 emission by 99%.
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18 Jun SSA appoints new Singapore bunker representative
Director of Global Energy International Ltd steps down from council.
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18 Jun Thailand seizes Singapore ship for smuggling diesel
Illegal cargo of fuel oil worth more than four million baht.
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15 Jun New record bunker prices, again, as oil hits $68
US numbers surging as fundamentals strengthening further.
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15 Jun California moves ahead with main engine regulations
Workshop hearing timeline for transition to low-sulphur distillate fuels.
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15 Jun INTERTANKO says distillates would bring a 'CO2 saving'
Tanker association argues against claims that switching to distillates would generate more greenhouse gases.
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15 Jun Australia: Grounded bulker to be re-floated on spring tides
Salvage teams to use jet-ski to help in hydographic survey in heavy swell.
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15 Jun Singapore: Fuel oil arbitrage volumes set to fall again
Traders say July arrivals will be down for the third month in a row.
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15 Jun Norway still pushing for distillates
CO2 penalty and cost arguments dismissed in Norwegian IMO policy.
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15 Jun Rotterdam firms amid congestion
15 Jun Fujairah to increase handling capacity as storage grows
$200 million to be spent on building new offshore oil berths.
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15 Jun Singapore prices firm on tight supply
Avails tight as suppliers wait for cargoes to be blended.
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14 Jun Distillate switch 'does not make sense', IBIA says
Association restating its opposition to the 'regulatory straitjacket' of INTERTANKO proposal.
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14 Jun Greek prices surge ahead as supplies tighten
But Piraeus bunker market still amongst the most competitive in the region.
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14 Jun INTERTANKO: US proposals strengthen case for distillates
Unilateral moves to limit sulphur show the need for 'comprehensive, practical and efficient strategy'.
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14 Jun Erika oil spill: Court hearings at an end
French oil major Total must wait until January to hear the court's verdict.
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14 Jun Fuel testing agency warns of high asphaltene levels
Viswa Lab says a growing number of engine problems from high asphaltene levels could be linked to low sulphur regulations.
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14 Jun Rotterdam firms, congestion continues
14 Jun Singapore: Residual fuel oil stocks at 6-week low
Stocks of middle distillates rebound from week-ago levels.
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14 Jun Shipping line testing new cold ironing technique
APL says it has developed a simpler and cheaper system for taking shore-side power.
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14 Jun April bunker sales up in Japan
Bonded bunker fuel sales up both month-on-month and year-on-year.
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14 Jun Japan: Supply shortage limits market
Traders fail to translate spot bunker nominations into deals due to tight avails.
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14 Jun Malaysian supplier to buy double-hull tankers
Fleet expansion plan for Malaysia-based bunker supplier.
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13 Jun Crude prices jump on DOE figures
Less-than-expected numbers and lower refinery utilisation causing market concern.
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13 Jun Satellite monitoring sees up to 12% fuel savings
New system claiming greater efficiency from real-time engine and speed analysis.
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13 Jun Europoort terminal 'already reviewing' procedures
Vopak spokesman responds to bunker players' calls to end delays at key loading terminal.
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13 Jun Vitol hints at plans for Fujairah refinery
Trading group says: 'There'll be times when we run it and times when we don't.'
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13 Jun ARA congestion persists
13 Jun Singapore 500 cst sales up 53.9% on year
Bunker sales in May down 4.6% compared to April figures.
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13 Jun Big ships to offer emission savings
World's biggest ore carriers could reduce energy consumption and emissions to air by almost 30% compared to standard capsize bulk carriers says DNV.
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13 Jun Lanka IOC completes first bunker delivery
Sri Lanka-based fuel retailer makes MGO delivery in the port of Trincomalee.
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13 Jun World oil demand to rise fast
An IEA report forecast global oil demand to grow to 1.7 million bpd.
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13 Jun Shanghai marks first bulk lube delivery
Lubmarine now supplies marine cylinder oil in bulk in Shanghai, and is looking to expand to other ports.
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13 Jun Wallenius Wilhelmsen wins environmental award
The company has been awarded the Heyerdahl Environmental Award 2007.
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12 Jun K-line signs up for shore power
Shipowner modifying five vessels to start cold ironing in Long Beach from next year.
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12 Jun Fuel quality monitoring revolution in the making
Major fuel and lubricant testing service in joint venture to offer real-time onboard monitoring of fuel and lubricant quality, predicting erosion of routine shore-based analysis over time.
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12 Jun DNV: Shipping can cut emissions now
Shipping could preempt legislative demands on CO2 and sulphur emissions by using existing technologies and switch to cleaner fuels, DNV chiefs suggest.
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12 Jun Bahamas terminal up for sale
Freeport's principal bunker supplier being sold off by PDVSA.
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12 Jun Salvage efforts ‘have a long way to go’
Australian official says situation around grounded bulker is ‘pretty dynamic’
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12 Jun Supplier bases strategy on needs of container ships
Fratelli Cosulich says Singapore operation will focus on high volumes of 500 cst product and fast pumping rates.
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12 Jun New trader at Statoil
Norwegian trading team growing again after recent changes.
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12 Jun Delays 'damage the good name of Rotterdam'
Players call for traders 'to stick to their words'.
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12 Jun Chinese fuel oil buyers 'by-passing' Singapore
High prices deterring Chinese buyers.
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12 Jun KIC to expand its bunker operations
Malaysia-based bunker supplier will buy bunker tankers and add to its storage capacity in Port Klang.
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11 Jun O.W. Bunker opens new Chile office
Supplier expanding operations with new trading office servicing South America, bunker tanker in region.
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11 Jun Salvage team struggles to prevent leak
Grounded bulker still poses threat to Australian coast.
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11 Jun Horizon Terminal on target
Plans to expand oil storage terminal in Singapore are on track, despite the rising cost of raw materials.
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11 Jun Congestion at Rotterdam
11 Jun Bunkering to start in Gwadar soon
New Pakistani port to see a few local suppliers commence bunker supply in two to three months.
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11 Jun Oil could hit $80 this year, Iranian official says
Tropical storms one factor that could push up prices, an official from National Iranian Oil Company says.
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11 Jun Hong Kong shelves cold ironing plans
Not practical to provide shore power supply before international standards are drawn up, official says.
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08 Jun US Gulf avails tight, Houston prices up
Suppliers still hunting for resupply as cargoes head for South America.
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08 Jun COPEC to expand storage
Chilean bunker supplier seeking approval for new terminal project.
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08 Jun Canada levies oil pollution fine
08 Jun Bulker damaged but not leaking
Initial reports of oil spill off Australian coast are not backed up, but pollution fears remain.
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08 Jun South Africa's bunker markets still struggling
No early end to the product shortages that have disrupted bunker operations.
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08 Jun Latest barge congestion 'extreme' in Rotterdam
Loading delays frustrate bunker players. 60,000 mt of product waiting to be loaded.
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08 Jun Oil leaking from grounded bulker, says report
Bulker driven onto rocks while waiting to enter Australian coal port.
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08 Jun Congestion persists in Rotterdam
08 Jun Firm fined for bunkering spill
Fishing firm fined NZ$50,000 for two bunker spills in one day.
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08 Jun India grants bunker sales tax reduction
Cochin Port presses ahead with bunkering project.
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07 Jun De facto California SECA by 2009
State agency revealing plans for lower sulphur levels for all ship fuels.
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07 Jun Refiner wants to maintain market share, despite upgrades
SK Corp says it will import fuel oil to keep the South Korean bunker market supplied.
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07 Jun Shipping association wants 'mini-SECAs'
BIMCO says small scale emission control areas would still allow major shipping routes to function 'unhindered'.
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07 Jun Congestion in Rotterdam, product tight in Antwerp
07 Jun Fujairah port re-opens; no reports of damage
Bunker players say deliveries will resume at Fujairah anchorages when swell subsides. Cyclone losing strength, but deaths reported in Oman.
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07 Jun Singapore residual fuel stocks at 5-week low
Stocks of middle distillates plunged to 22-week low.
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07 Jun Sri Lanka port construction starts
Construction work for the Chinese-backed Hambantota port project started today.
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07 Jun Singapore expects demand to rise
More vessel arrivals expected next week, but avails are tight.
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06 Jun Houston prices post new record
Bunker values close to $350 as firming continues.
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06 Jun Court throws out magic pipe charge
Jurors rejecting crew evidence over oily-water discharges in an industry first.
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06 Jun OPEC warns on oil price
Amid calls for more production, cartel warning biofuels could push oil prices 'through the roof'.
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06 Jun Bakri grows its storage capacity
Fuel oil trader and bunker supplier wants to 'enhance its presence' through infrastructure projects.
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06 Jun New fuel oil player makes an impact
Morgan Stanley buys 'four parcels in two days' as Asian fuel oil prices firm.
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06 Jun Retroactive price falls
Japanese bunker agreement sees prices fall for the first time in five months.
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06 Jun Bunkering remains on hold in Fujairah hub
Tropical cyclone forces Omani ports to close. Crude oil prices rise on fears of disruption.
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05 Jun Chile, Uruguay avails situation updated
High seasonal demand in Chile as Uruguay saga takes another turn.
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05 Jun New supply option in Mexico available
Supplier opening new blending facility to meet expanding demand.
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05 Jun Bunker company in storage joint-venture
Antwerp bunker company involved in acquisition of Vopak terminal.
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05 Jun Bunker hub suspends operations
Fujairah hit by tropical cyclone, suppliers waiting for instructions.
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05 Jun Chemoil indicates scale of its Fujairah ambitions
CEO says a 25-30% market share would be 'good'.
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05 Jun Middle East fuel oil cargo price slides
Players say market may be returning to normal after months of tight supplies.
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05 Jun Rotterdam market firms
05 Jun DNVPS stands by its bunker alerts in Thailand
Fuel testing company repeats claim that samples showed high levels of Aluminium and Silicon.
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05 Jun MOL stops lifting of 180 cst in Thailand
Japanese liner cautious over 'off-spec cases'.
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05 Jun China conducts largest ever oil spill exercise
More than 500 people in the drill off the port city of Qinghuangdao.
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05 Jun Philippine to establish oil spill fund
New act comes 10 months after the country's worst fuel oil spill.
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05 Jun S Korea prices drop on improved supply
Bunker demand expected to stay moderate in the short term.
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04 Jun US bunker prices start week firmer
04 Jun Singapore holds onto Friday's gains
Rotterdam prices push forward, but market direction difficult to call.
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04 Jun Shipping industry must prepare for Emissions Trading
INTERTANKO says trading in sulphur oxides and greenhouse gas emissions is 'inevitable'.
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04 Jun Baltic countries want more SOx reductions
Government representatives look for ways of further tightening environmental controls.
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04 Jun Rotterdam rebounds Monday morning
04 Jun Philippine police probe bunker fuel theft
About 20 mt of bunker fuel was stolen during transportation.
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04 Jun Singapore: Chief engineer guilty of bunker corruption
Engineer accepted bribe to falsely certify the supply of 40 mt of bunker fuel.
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04 Jun Pakistan supplier shifts office
01 Jun Shore power: $1.5 million per tonne of emissions
California releasing preliminary cost figures showing cost of pollution reductions.
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01 Jun Prices surge in Singapore bunker market
Trader says market is "not exactly oversupplied".
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01 Jun Rotterdam on course for new bunker record
After strong Q1, Rotterdam bunker fuel sales could hit 14 million tonnes in 2007.
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01 Jun ARACON 2007: Lucky draw for Poll participant
Winner of prize draw for a free delegate pass to ARACON 2007 announced.
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01 Jun Tankers could use volatile gases as bunker fuel
Norwegian Government urged to back research into an alternative to conventional bunkers.
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01 Jun Thailand bunker fuels 'on spec' says PTT
State-owned oil company says sales volumes dropped following bunker alerts.
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01 Jun Tiny take-up of LSFO offerings in Spanish ports
Supplier pins hopes on second SECA to justify investments made in LSFO supply ability.
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01 Jun Sea Trader moves office
01 Jun Praxis opens Singapore office
Brokering and trading house will focus on Singapore's physical market.
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